Stokes can help England win the Ashes, claims Flintoff

Former England captain Andrew Flintoff believes that with a 'fantastic' Ben Stokes in their line-up, England can beat the Aussies during the upcoming Ashes series.

The Mirror quoted Flintoff, as saying that Stokes was a proper batsman and could take the fight to the Aussies.

Praising Stokes, Flintoff described the former as a new version of himself and Sir Ian Botham, and predicted that he would be a star in his own right and have his own image.

Flintoff also said that his bowling was only going to get better as his action would evolve and he learns his craft. Stokes, he said, already has a knack of making things happen with the ball.

Stokes helped England register a thrilling victory against New Zealand at Lord's in the first test, and since then, has been winning praise from the cricket fraternity.

Flintoff also praised England captain Alastair Cook for becoming the nation's leading Test scorer after mentor Graham Gooch.

He said that there were not many people who could make a hundred on their Test debut after flying halfway round the world as emergency cover, and very few can score 9,000 runs and even fewer who can deliver under the pressure he's been under for the last year.